andidates running on the November 2017 ballot were
required to file paperwork with their respective city
clerks or school board offices by close of business Aug. 28.
The following week, the Neighborhood Gazette emailed
questionnaires to the hopefuls, along with a request for a highresolution headshot photo, to be published with their responses
to the questions below:
1. What is your name, position running for, occupation,
previous occupations, how long you've lived in the city or
district, and any personal details you want readers to know
about you.
2. Have you served in public office before? If so, what
position, where and when?
3. Have you volunteered in your community? If so, what
position, where and when?
4. What are the three most important issues facing your
city/district, and how will you address them if elected?
5. Please provide basic contact information: Website, phone
number, email, social media, as well as name of candidate
committee and chairperson.
Continued on page 2

A CLASSIC CAR SHOW was just one of many fun, family attractions at this year’s RidgeFest, held Sept. 9 in the
heart of the Ridge at 38 district, highlighting the community’s agricultural heritage and handmade/homemade
offerings. PHOTO: BECKY OLSTAD

All Along the G Line: Someday My Train Will Come...
n By

I

Jennifer LeDuc

t isn’t hard to imagine the Arvada stop of
RTD’s G Line buzzing with riders returning
home from work and filtering off the train
into any number of eateries and shops dotting
the Olde Town neighborhood, or hopping on
to to catch an easy ride to a game downtown.
The G Line, formally know as the Gold
Line, was slated to open in October of 2016.
The line is 11 miles long, with 8 stops between
Union Station and Ward Road in Wheat Ridge.
The project is not stalled, as much as delayed,
pending successful testing and approval by
the Federal Railroad Administration of the
commuter rail’s Positive Train Control safety
system.
That anticipated surge in foot traffic
meant rents were raised for many tenants in
Olde Town. Some businesses have hung on,
some have not, and some prime store-front
real estate is unoccupied.
Informally polling shopkeepers and
customers opposite the G Line stop on
Grandview Avenue in Olde Town recently
revealed mixed understanding of the delays,
and optimism divided.
“No, I don’t understand why it’s not
running. I keep hearing the same thing
everyone else does,” said Charlie Craven,
proprietor of Charlie’s FlyBox. “There a lot
of new businesses here that are optimistic. It
certainly won’t hurt us, but people have been
sold that this train is coming, and 13 years
later it’s still not here.”
Consequently, said Craven, the shop has
seen a 30 percent decrease in sales over last
year.
“There’s no parking,” he laments.
When the Olde Town stop was
redeveloped in anticipation of the commuter
line, the city removed the parking lot on

Grandview Avenue and built a parking garage
beneath the station. Craven feels the city has
poorly promoted the new garage and sees
only those who work in Olde Town park there.
“It’s less than abandoned,” he said. “All
the time.”
RTD is indeed not utilizing the parking
garage, said Nate Currey, RTD’s senior
manager of public relations. Logistically,
he said, until the trains run it isn’t efficient

to pull the bus riders into the lot from the
current Park-n-Ride lot across the street.
At Silver Vines Winery, a few doors down
from the FlyBox, the mood is more optimistic
and some customers seem well-informed.
Diane Chayer, whose two sons own the
winery, said initially she didn’t realize the
commuter line and the light rail were any
different.
“I kept calling it a light rail,” and some

customers corrected her, she said.
“So that being said,” Chayer continued,
“because we were all thinking it was going
to open, rent has gone up tremendously, and
everyone thought it would be bring people to
Olde Town supporting our businesses – but
it’s kinda hard to go on hearsay.”
At the end of the line, at 52nd and Ward
Continued on page 2

N E I G H B O R H O O D F E AT U R E

Filling The Fall
With Community Music
n By

Sally Griffin

W

e helped raise enough money for almost a month of staff salaries
at the Lomagundi Medical Clinic in Chinoi, Zimbabwe. All we
had to do, along with about 60 other people, was to attend a concert at
the small outdoor amphitheater at Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church.
The concert featured the Afro-Pop band, Nokuthula. In talking to the
co-founder of Nokuthula, Andre Mallinger, she told us that she loves
performing music made for communities by community members –
what she calls “community music.” It occurred to me, in a community
like ours, there must be more opportunities to participate in community
music, if only as audience members.
The first place I found was with the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra
(JSO). The JSO is a 75-member community orchestra that began in
1953 among a small group of faculty and students at Colorado School
of Mines. This group quickly grew until, in 1957, it was recognized as
the largest ensemble, based on community size, in the United States.
CELLISTS FROM THE JEFFERSON SYMPHONY OR- Today, the JSO is one of the oldest and largest community orchestras in
the state of Colorado. Wow! Talk about community music.
CHESTRA rehearse for an upcoming performance. The
The JSO has gone beyond community music to become a community

JSO will perform five concerts for the 2017-18 season.
PHOTO: KEITH BOBO/JSO

This is super secret saver is hiding
somewhere in this issue. Find him
and send an email to puzzle@
ngazette.com and tell us where he
is at. We will draw a winner out of the
correct responses and
send them a cool prize.
Good luck!

Group Insurance Analysts, Inc. (GIA) is an independent agency located in Wheat Ridge.

9195 West 44th Ave • 303-423-0162, ext. 100
www.e-gia.com
Representing Our Clients’ Best Interests Since 1984.
GIA is an Official Registered Company of CBS4 and HaystackHelp.com

WR
CF

Wheat Ridge
Community
Foundation

The Wheat Ridge Community Foundation
encourages giving, fiscally supports
organizations that serve civic, educational
and community needs and sponsors and
supports educational programs.
For more info, or to donate to
community programs visit:

wheatridgefoundation.org

James S. Muniz

950 Wadsworth Blvd, Ste 313, Lakewood, CO 80214 • 720-939-1110

Jeﬀerson Symphony
Continued from page 1

treasure. Its innovative programs include
five classical concerts each season; the
Jefferson Symphony Showcase, in which
solo and chamber musicians perform in small,
intimate settings; the Jefferson Symphony
International Young Artists Competition,
in which top young talent compete for cash
and the opportunity to perform the winning
concerto with the JSO; and the Free Pops
Concert in the Park, performed every August
in Parfet Park in Golden.
The all-volunteer orchestra strives to
keep its concerts affordable and accessible for
all community members. It also provides free
tickets to community members who might
not, otherwise, be able to afford even the low
ticket prices. The free concerts in August seek
to provide music for community members
of all ages to enjoy. In the best tradition of
community music, this artistic resource adds
awareness and pleasure to individuals and
enhanced quality of life to Jefferson County.
There are five concerts that the JSO will
perform this year. The first two are at their
normal venue, the Colorado School of Mines’
Green Center. While that is being renovated,
the final three concerts will be performed at
Wheat Ridge United Methodist Church. They
take place Sundays and include music of:
• Brahms, Elgar and Beethoven, Oct. 22, 3
p.m.;
• Stravinski and the holidays, Dec. 3, 3
p.m.;
• Tchaikovsky, Mozetich, Debussy and
Ravel, Feb. 25, 4 p.m.;
• Prokofiev and and a to-be-announced
piano concerto, March 2, 4 p.m.; and
• Piazzolla, de Falla, Copeland, Bernstein
and Hovhaness, May 6, 4 p.m.
Visit www.jeffsymphony.org/concerts for
ticket information and prices.
Steve Mallison, the Director of Music at
Wheat Ridge United Methodist Church, is
justifiably proud of his church’s excellent
acoustics and contribution to community
music. In addition to hosting the Jefferson
Symphony, the church will be hosting the
following community music events:
• The Golden Community Chorus, Dec. 2,
at 3 and 7 p.m.
• The Alpine Chorale, around Easter and
Christmas.
• Ralston Valley High School Choirs, at
various times during the year.
Mallison can be reached at 303-4206346.
The Arvada United Methodist Church
hosts the Jeffco Adult Community Band,
which performs four times a year. This is
a true example of community music made
by community members and the band
encourages all adult players of any band
instrument to participate, without audition.
They play to enjoy music and share their
talents. Contact gorgeouspan@msn.com for
more information.
For a change of musical endeavors,
the Arvada Center welcomes the Colorado
Jazz Repertory Orchestra, which features
everything from big band to exciting modern
jazz compositions on select Saturdays:
• “West Coast Jazz,” Oct. 7;
• “New York Jazz,” Jan. 20; and
• “Tribute to Buddy Rich,” March 24.
The Arvada Center Box Office, at 720898-7200, can give you more information,
including music subscriptions and individual
concert tickets.
The Arvada Center also offers “Coffee
Concerts with Jeffrey Siegel.” These are casual
musicales during which Siegel discusses and
then uses his piano virtuosity to perform
engaging compositions, Wednesdays at 11
a.m.:
• “Moods and Tones,” Oct. 4;
• “Joyous Beethoven,” Nov. 1;
• “The Classic Moderns,” Jan. 17; and
• “Storytelling through Music,” March 14.
For
more
information:
http://
arvadacenter.org/jeffrey-siegel-coffeeconcerts
Siegel
also
does
“Keyboard
Conversations,” Wednesday evening concerts
(7:30 p.m.) that invite the community
to interact with the performer. Before
performing, he talks about each piece to help
the audiences experience music in new ways
and encourages the audience to engage in the

music by asking questions.
• “Celebrating Leonard Bernstein,” Oct. 4;
• “Music of the Night – The Beautiful and
the Bizarre,” Nov. 1;
• “Love Inspired Music of Three Great
Romantics – Chopin, Schumann and Liszt,”
Jan. 17; and
• “A Musical Kinship – Bach and Chopin,”
March 14.
For
more
information:
https://
arvadacenter.org/on-stage/jeffrey-siegelkeyboard-conversations-2
The Arvada Center is also a place for the
Front Range Youth Symphony Orchestras
that bring together talented young musicians
from across the Front Range for unique
study and training in orchestral repertoire.
It is so successful that the group has toured
on both coasts of the United States. The
program is intended to be an enhancement to
school music programs and has participants
perform in three concerts per season at the
Arvada Center, held Mondays at 7 p.m.:
* Fall Concert, Oct. 23;
* Winter Concert, Feb. 5; and
* Spring Concert, April 30.
For
more
information:
https://
arvadacenter.org/education/youthsymphony

G Line
Continued from page 1

Road in Wheat Ridge, two flaggers in hard
hats and safety vests sit under umbrellas on
either side of the crossing gates, as they do
everyday at each crossing along the A and G
lines, serving as back up to the gates closing
and opening, when a freight train passes
through, which it does a few times a day, and
as it did on this particular day.
About 30 seconds before the lumbering
locomotive arrives to within a few hundred
yards of the gate, its unmistakable, and very
loud, whistle blows. As if on cue, the traffic
lights turn solid red for automobiles in all
directions, and the crossing gates’ lights flash
and arms start to drop. Some drivers look
annoyed, and turn their vehicles around. This
is a long train. It takes almost exactly five
minutes for the last car to pass through the
intersection. In less than 10 seconds the gates
are back up, lights have stopped blinking, and
the flaggers return to their umbrellas, the
only shade around.
The Ward Road station sticks out like a
new thumb amidst industry and a vacant lot.
HRE Holdings owns the north side lot, which
used to be an alpaca farm. Patrick Henry,
principal at HRE, said his development of the
site is in no way influenced by the delays of
the G Line for whatever reason.
With planning and zoning hurdles still
to address, “All that takes time. We can’t
really move too aggressively,” said Henry,
forecasting his residential project to last
several years. “I just need it open by 2019.”
Back at the winery, Chayer, like RTD
and it’s partners in building and managing
the line Denver Transit Partners, remains
optimistic the commuter line’s silver steel
cars will be safely connecting passengers to
Olde Town and downtown sooner than later,
following approval by the FRA.
“We have no plans whatsoever to
relocate, despite the rent increase,” she said.
“Hopefully it will be a win/win for everybody.”
Cheers to that.

2017 Elections
Continued from page 1

Responses are published verbatim,
although they may have been edited for
length (character limits were included in
the questionnaire), readability, potential
libelous content, offensiveness or poor taste.
Responses from candidates running for
Wheat Ridge Mayor and Jefferson County
Board of Education are published on pages 7
and 8; responses from candidates running for
Wheat Ridge City Council will be published
in the October issue due to space limitations.
(See Patricia Lilliston’s survey of Mountain
View mayoral candidates on page 6.)
The Neighborhood Gazette will not be
endorsing candidates or ballot initiatives.
Individual staff members may be involved
in political campaigns, but they do not speak
officially for the newspaper.

Election 2017 Shines the
Spotlight on You
believe, is progress tempered by a genuine
respect for our existing Wheat Ridge values.
This fall the choice will be yours to elect
hose selected to govern our city are an
leaders who understand that while we are
undeniable reflection of the votes that
smaller than some neighboring cities, we
were cast in our last election. As the leaves
should be afforded the same opportunities.
begin to change and more yard signs appear,
We want to continue to take pride in our
it is clear that election season 2017 has
city, the safety of our community, the job
arrived. This means you once again have a
and educational opportunities that exist,
job to do. This is your opportunity to help
and the investment community members
create what you want to see in the way of
and the business community
city governance. That’s right; the
continue to make in securing
spotlight is on you to make some
a successful future for Wheat
serious choices that will have a
Ridge.
significant impact on our quality
When a candidate comes
of life and how the work of City
to your door, you have the
Hall gets accomplished in Wheat
opportunity to find out who
Ridge.
they are and what their plans
Keeping that in mind, you
are for Wheat Ridge. Take
need to ask yourself some
the time to tell them what you
important questions: Whom
want and remember to ask
do you trust with the value of
them what they see for our
your home or business? Who
Joyce Jay
future. Will they continue on
do you want deciding how your
the current progressive path
tax money is spent? Whom do
or do they have a different vision? As we
you want determining if Wheat Ridge has
evolve, our demographics are changing
enough police protection, or what tools our
and bringing more young families and
police department needs to protect your life
professionals into our community. That
and property?
means our investment as a city in business
This year’s ballot includes four open City
development and housing should increase.
Council positions as well as the position of
We also have a large number of residents
mayor. It is time to ask ourselves if we view
who are retiring and want to stay in the
those running for city office as leaders or
community they have always called home.
just well-meaning community members.
How are we planning for the needs of
Are their hearts full of what is best for
these diverse groups of people? With the G
Wheat Ridge, or are they simply looking
Line commuter rail line opening this year
for a title; or worse yet, are they using the
and residential housing being built at The
position as a stepping-stone to the next
Corners, Clear Creek Crossing, and the West
political office? Does your favorite candidate
End at 38th, Wheat Ridge will continue to
have a vision for our city? Will they work to
attract more people. How will we engage
protect our community as well as expand
them in the community and encourage the
future possibilities for growth and economic
adoption of what we value in the quality of
success?
We need people leading city government
who understand the big picture, which I
Continued on page 6
n By

Joyce Jay

T

Leigh@DenversBestAgent.com

ood
hb o r h
g
i
e
N
Th e
u rc e !
Ar t S o

6719 W. Colfax Avenue
next to Casa Bonita,
in the Gallery of Everything

n 2015, Localworks decided to honor
the individuals and organizations that
contribute to the success of the Wheat
Ridge community by presenting two annual
Community Builder Awards. The criteria
of this award includes: building on Wheat
Ridge’s heritage; improving the quality of
life today; and demonstrating a vision of
a thriving future. One organization that
encompasses all of these qualities is the
winning organization of the inaugural
Community Building Award – Five Fridges
Farm.
Amanda Weaver owns and operates this
sustainable research farm in Wheat Ridge.
Weaver and Five Fridges Farm perfectly
exemplify the criteria for the award. Five
Fridges Farm honors the agricultural
heritage of Wheat Ridge by preserving
farming spirit in the community. In fact,
Weaver purchased the farm in 2010 after
apprenticing with the property owner and
longtime Wheat Ridge resident Louise
Turner, thus preserving the properties
agricultural past. She improves the quality
of life today by sharing her knowledge and
products from the farm with the community.
Finally, she focuses on sustainable practices
that benefit a positive cycle of long-term
food production for people, pollinators and
grazers.
“The award was a wonderful recognition
that urban agriculture does impact and
has importance for an urban audience,”
said Weaver. “Our community is larger
than the people that live in Wheat Ridge.

It also includes that urban wildlife,
ecological systems, and environment that
makes Wheat Ridge a beautiful and ‘green’
community.”
After winning the Community Builder
Award, Five Fridges Farm has continued to
be a strong community partner. Currently,
Weaver is working closely with Localworks’
Activate 38 Program, which will increase
active transportation, transit use and
accessibility along 38th Avenue between
Kipling and Youngfield in Wheat Ridge.
“Activate 38 is important to the farm
because the farm entrance is along 38th
Avenue,” said Weaver. “With as many
children and families that come to the farm,
I would like to have other ways for them to
arrive than only by car.”
Weaver is excited that Activate 38
encourages all modes of transportation and
connectivity in the community.
Of working alongside Localworks,
Weaver said, “Localworks is amazing
because it encourages a ‘whole’ community.
They focus on all of the aspects of how
we live - how we eat, play, recreate, do
business, and move around. I feel so lucky
to have a local organization that, like the
farm, considers all aspects of community.”
Nominations are currently open for
the 2017 Community Builder Award.
Nominations are due by Oct. 6, and
recipients will be recognized at the 2017
Localworks Annual Meeting on Nov. 9.
Learn more and nominate an individual or
organization at WeAreLocalworks.org.
Ashley Holland is the Marketing and
Events Coordinator at Localworks.

ngazette.com – SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 16, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

n By

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

ASK THE EXPERT

Things You May Not Know
About Crown Hill Park

Demystifying Property
Ownership in Colorado

Jim Cherney

W

hat may be the busiest parcel of open
space in Wheat Ridge is not managed
by Wheat Ridge at all. Rather, Crown Hill
Park is part of Jefferson County Open Space
and is owned, supervised and managed by
the County. It may not be surprising to many
residents however that Crown Hill Park is
the highest utilized Open Space park in the
County. According to a 2011 estimate, there
were 400,000 visits to the park per year, a
number that is undoubtedly significantly
higher today.
Like much of Wheat Ridge, the property
that is now Crown Hill Park was part of an
extensive farm owned in the 19th century by
the Lee family, who were farmers and quite
active in Colorado politics in the latter part of
the century. One-hundred-and-eighty acres
of the land were sold by the family in 1908
to the Crown Hill Cemetery Association and
now represent the Crown Hill Cemetery. But
it was not until 1978 that the County joined
the cities of Wheat Ridge and Lakewood
to purchase the west portion of the land
to create Crown Hill Open Space Park. In
1995, a smaller east portion adjacent to
the cemetery was acquired, completing the
footprint of the park as it currently exists.
The park sits on 242 acres of land
including the 52-acre Crown Hill Lake,
the five-acre Kestrel Pond, three miles of
natural surface trail and six-and-a-half
miles of hard-surface trails.
Mary Ann Bonnell, a Jeffco Open Space
Park Ranger and Visitor Services Manager,
explains that the park constituency is
broad and multi-purpose. It is a hiking,
dog walking, biking, horseback riding and
exercise destination in addition to being a

throughway for cyclists passing from Denver
to Golden or elsewhere. That is why you see
lots of people there from early morning to
evening – and in between.
Bonnell reviewed the significant
improvements to the park within the past
few years. The Visitor kiosk and restrooms
at the 26th and Garland trailhead were
rebuilt with water fill stations (including
one for dogs). In partnership with Whole
Foods, there is now a bike repair station
with air pump and tools for the heavy
through-bike population on 26th and
32nd. On the south side of the lake, there
is a permanent spotting scope for bird and
wildlife enthusiasts who didn’t bring their
own binoculars.
Bonnell also pointed out one difference
between Crown Hill and truly urban parks,
such as Washington Park in Denver.
“Crown Hill has an indigenous herd of
deer living in the park and a recent fawn.”
Among the wildlife “rock stars” at the
park are coyotes, bald eagles, hawks, kestrels
and some snapping turtles, who excavate
egg nests near the trail in the spring. Quite
an array of wildlife (not to mention other
birds) for a somewhat urban open space!
Bonnell explained that the park
administration has been preemptive
in addressing issues and needs of the
constituency. Three years ago, Jeffco Open
Space worked with Wheat Ridge High School
to create dedicated space including tables,
trash cans and seating areas for students
who use the park immediately adjacent to
the school. That avoids interference with
others using the walking trails and enables
the students to enjoy the park space as well.
Continued on page 7

5

In Colorado, the default for joint
ownership is tenancy in common. This
arried couples are often presented means that if the type of ownership is not
with title documents when buying stated in a real property deed, title will be as
tenants in common by default.
a home stating “joint tenants
It is therefore important to
with rights of survivorship.”
make a determination as to
What this means is that when
the preferred form of joint
one spouse dies, the surviving
ownership for any property
spouse automatically takes title
(real or personal) in which more
to the home. The recording of
than one person takes title, and
the deceased spouse’s death
to make sure the title document
certificate will create a record
(such as the deed) includes the
of such ownership. This is in
appropriate language.
contrast to title as “tenants
In my law practice, I often
in common,” in which title is
find that these and other title
retained in the deceased spouse’s
Joe Lusk
issues arise in nontraditional
estate.
Here is why the distinction between real estate transactions, such as tax sales or
the two types of ownership is important: informal “deals” where no title company is
even if the surviving spouse is named as the used for closing. It is best to consult with an
decedent’s sole heir, the surviving spouse attorney prior to finalizing such transactions to
will need to probate the decedent’s estate ensure the appropriate deed language is used.
to transfer title of the home. Probate can be Joe Lusk is a lawyer with Boatright,
quite costly when compared to the simple Ripp & Lusk, LLC in Wheat Ridge. He can
be reached at 303-423-7131.
act of recording a death certificate.

By Joe Lusk

M

Have a news tip or story idea? Send it to editor@ngazette.com
Celebrating Over 50 Years on 44th Avenue

HUD SUBSIDY WAITLIST LIST IS CLOSED
DUE TO EXCESSIVE AVERAGE WAIT TIMES
APPLICATIONS FOR TAX CREDIT WILL BE ACCEPTED

RESSIVE SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY
•
•
•
•
•

Affordable Housing: Tax Credit and Subsidized Housing
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR TAX CREDIT WAIT LIST
SUBSIDIZED WAIT LIST CLOSED
for seniors 62 and older and adults with a disability
Affordable Housing: Tax Credit and Subsidized Housing for seniors
Accessible units
62 and older and adults with a disability
Accessible units
Major campus renovation completed
Major campus renovation completed
Utilities included
Utilities included
Full Time Management Staff on site M-F
Full Time Management Staff on site M-F
Learn more at www.hwcliving.com

hether you prefer to vote at a precinct
polling site, or mail a completed
ballot, Mountain View voters need to be
prepared for Tuesday, Nov. 7, Election
Day. This November, three candidates will
appear on the ballot for Mountain View’s top
leadership position: Jeff Kiddie, Glenn Levy
and Jon Richardson vie for the position of
Mayor of Mountain View.
Recently, all three candidates agreed
to individual interviews, and responded to
topics including the desire for seeking the
office, the challenges facing the community,
experience and leadership skills.

Jeff Kiddie
A Mountain View resident for 60 years,
involved in local public service for 25 years,
and a business owner, incumbent Mayor
Jeff Kiddie states, “I want to continue
as the mayor of our community to see
that the infrastructure plan introduced
to residents at the Town Hall meeting in
June 2017, becomes a reality. I also see
more involvement from residents at town
meetings and events, and I want to build
upon their participation.”
Kiddie acknowledges that the town’s
infrastructure, which he clarifies as the
street, gutter and sidewalk areas, is the most
challenging project for town government.
Kiddie expresses his concern for the
condition of the town’s waterline system
not only from the mainline structure, but
leading into the residential meter box.
“I am very familiar with town codes,
resolutions, and ordinances. I understand
the need and the importance of finding
funds and grants for the project. I want to
see this project through.”
Kiddie describes his leadership style as
collaborative with a desire to partner with
residents and business owners, council
members and staff.
“I am open minded at town council
meetings, study sessions, and public forums.
I highly value the input from residents,
staff and council committees in making
decisions.”

Glenn Levy
Living in Mountain View for 10 years,
a current town council member since 2015,
and self-employed, mayoral candidate
Glenn Levy affirms, “I’m running for mayor
because the status quo and solutions of
the past are inadequate for the challenges
we face today. I believe we need a new,
proactive approach to managing our town.”
Levy defines his approach as the SMART
choice: Smart and Balanced Growth,
Making Mountain View sustainable,

Wheat Ridge Mayor
Continued from page 4

life here?
In the past few years, Wheat Ridge has
become part of a regional collaboration.
Regional involvement has created access
to Denver Regional Council of Government
grants for such projects as the Kipling
Trail and the widening of Wadsworth. We
regularly provide input on issues critical
to the development of Jefferson County,
including concerns about homelessness,
education, business, citizen health, safety,
flood control, and bike connectivity — all
of which add value to living and working
in our city. Our elected officials must also
be well prepared to participate in our state
legislative process to testify and bring

Activating the community, fostering
Responsive government, and enhancing
Town revitalization.
Levy recognizes the town’s aging
infrastructure, the need to diversify the tax
base, and the importance for residents to
become stakeholders as the main challenges
facing the community. Levy emphasizes that
he is aware and understands the complexity of
these challenges. He states that his professional
knowledge and experience will serve him well
when he works to solidify the town’s finances,
re-develops vacant commercial sites, and
addresses the requirements for infrastructure
improvement.
Levy offers that his leadership style
will provide a new vision for the town. He
considers himself a problem solver, creative
and knowledgeable, and a competent
communicator.
“I will lead the town towards much
needed diversification and growth by
bringing in the right experts to steer the
discussion, and by asking the most relevant
questions so that the town council and our
residents can understand the issues and
make the best possible decisions for the
town’s future.”

Jon Richardson
A resident in Mountain View for five
years, currently a town council member, and
local business owner, mayoral candidate
Jon Richardson expresses, “I am running
for mayor of Mountain View because it
is important for me to be involved in the
community where my wife and I are raising
our three kids. I want to create the best
Mountain View, not only for my own family,
but for all the families.”
Richardson
believes
that
the
biggest challenge for the municipality is
establishing and maintaining a sustainable
economic growth and development plan.
With a focus on sustainability, and longterm budget planning, Richardson says
that the essential infrastructure projects,
the repair and maintenance of the streets,
gutters, alleys and water drainage systems,
will be adequately funded and completed in
a timely manner.
Richardson sees himself as a
collaborative leader who is dedicated to
teamwork to ensure that staff, council and
residents work together.
“The town needs a strong leader that is
trusted by the residents and employees of
Mountain View. I am enthusiastic about our
town, and I will bring a young energy to the
town leadership. I see our town as small, but
diverse. I will be a leader for all residents.”
Contact Mayoral candidates, Jeff Kiddie at JKiddie@TOMV.org; Glenn Levy
at GLevy@TOMV.org or on Facebook @
Glennformountainview; Jon Richardson at
JRichardson@TOMV.org.

forward the wishes and concerns of our
community.
We are asking a lot of those seeking
office, as we should. Now it is your turn to
decide who will lead our city. In addition to
town hall meetings where you can meet the
candidates, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, the League
of Women Voters will host an Election
Forum from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall. The
event will be televised on Channel 8 and
will be rebroadcast multiple times later that
month.
Yes, this November it is your turn
to choose the principal players of local
representative government — and your
responsibility to be sure these individuals
represent you and the city you love.
Contact Wheat Ridge Mayor Joyce Jay
at 303-420-8533 or jjay@ci.wheatridge.
co.us.

Have a news tip or story idea? Send it to editor@ngazette.com

ngazette.com – SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 16, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

Wheat Ridge
Mayoral Candidates

Does your
personal trainer
get results
like this?

Joseph DeMott
Who: My name is Joe DeMott and I want to be your
next Wheat Ridge Mayor. I am a Wheat Ridge native and
graduate of Wheat Ridge High School, class of 1990. My
family has been serving this community at one of our
restaurants, Pietra’s Pizzeria, here in Wheat Ridge since
1964.
Public Office: Much of my experience comes from
serving on Wheat Ridge City Council from 2009-2013.
Volunteer: My volunteer experience includes
• Carnation Festival Chair 2014-present
• President Wheat Ridge Business District
• Chair-elect, Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce
• Wheat Ridge Housing Authority 2009-2013
Most Important Issues:
• I aspire to represent you in a professional and articulate manner and chair friendly and
productive Council business meetings. I will continue to advocate for strong public safety to
reinforce the teamwork between our nationally recognized first responders.
• I will help guide realistic economic development by empowering citizens through a
board led process that can get results and save hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• There is a disconnect between our citizens and necessary departments within the city.
I will demand accountability of our building department by opening communications and
easing some of the fears for our citizens.
I will listen and advocate for our citizens on transportation issues such as 38th Ave and
demand Council make tough decisions without the expense of outside consultants. I will
work for a compromise that works for all citizens.
I respectfully ask for your vote for Mayor and promise to always represent Wheat Ridge
neighborhoods and businesses with the utmost respect.
Contact: Citizens for Joe DeMott, Richard Matthews registered agent; Joedemott.
com, 303-929-4608, Jdemott4@gmail.com.

Get started today!

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While there are no major additional
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the blinds in the wildlife refuge.
The park is closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
– “urban hours” – that applies to the park
proper as well as the parking lots.
Contact Jim Cherney at jalancherney@
outlook.com.

Who: Bud Starker. Mayor. Carpenter, superintendent,
construction company owner. Moved to WR in 1975. Built
& own West 29th Restaurant & Bar. Married (Mary). 2
grown sons. Enjoy skiing, gardening, family.
Public Office: Public Member, Colorado State Board
for Architects, Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors
2004-2012; WR Building Code Advisory Board 20092011; WR City Council 2011-2015.
Volunteer: Wheat Ridge Business Association,
Board of Directors, Treasurer 2015-present; West 29th
Marketplace Assoc., founding member, 2014-present;
JCBL 2015-present; Jeffco Food Policy Council 2014-2016.
Most Important Issues:
• Safe and secure neighborhoods – quality of life we enjoy & ability of our citizens,
children to seniors, to enjoy the full fruits of our community life together. Safe: increase
Neighborhood Watch; promote police-community communications & cooperation;
safe street strategies (sidewalks, speed, lighting, crosswalks, drainage). Secure: promote
community events; senior housing options; new family neighborhood integration; multigenerational interaction.
• Build new opportunities for economic growth & financial stability – encourage
thoughtful development that strengthens our economic base. Promote matching-grant
business façade improvements; foster interactions between existing business landowners
and potential new redevelopment partners; engage new and existing job creators on
local economic possibilities; strengthen ties between educational institutions and job
opportunities.
• Conserve the small-town feel and quality of life we enjoy – be smart and diligent with
the new development that is coming. Build projects that have the correct scale, design
characteristics and quality that reflects our rural roots and maintains our small-town
character. I will use my lifelong experience as a hands-on builder to maximize the value we
receive for the public infrastructure dollars we spend and encourage private development
to be sensitive to our history.
Contact: BudForMayor.net; Bud@BudForMayor.net; Facebook, @BudForMayor;
Committee, Bud For Mayor, Chairperson Bud Starker.

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the Midwest, a not-for-profit provider of senior health care since 1930.

8

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 16, 2017 – ngazette.com

Jefferson County Board of Education Candidates
n Compiled

by Gwen Clayton

Director District 1
Brad Rupert
Who: Brad Rupert; Jefferson
County School Board, District 1; I am
an attorney in private practice; I have
lived in Jefferson County for 33 years;
my children are Jeffco graduates.
Public Office: I have served on the
Jefferson County Board of Education
for two years.
Volunteer: Habitat for Humanity
volunteer since 1994. President,
Arvada Chamber of Commerce 2002,
Board six years. President, Arvada Community Food Bank
four years, Board eight years. President, A-J Kiwanis.
Most Important Issues:
• The ongoing issue is K-12 funding in Colorado has failed
to keep up with growth and inflation. Repeated cycles of
budget cuts have reduced our ability to attract and retain the
best teachers and prevented us from properly maintaining our
schools and other facilities. As a District we must continue to
improve and deliver on our promise of an excellent education
for every child and thereby earn appropriate funding from
voters. I am hopeful that voters want and are willing to pay
for highly effective schools. We must reform TABOR to allow
this to happen.
• We must continue to reduce achievement gaps for
children living in poverty. We should provide high quality
preschool and kindergarten for all children so all children start
their formal education on equal footing. We must improve
our family engagement so families can support the work done
at school. We must expand alternative career pathways for
the majority of graduates who will not be attending college.
We can prepare these graduates for the many honorable and
lucrative careers that don't require a college degree.
• After many years of cuts, our schools are showing the
neglect. We must build capacity in the growing areas of the
District while we maintain and renew the facilities we already
have an investment in.
Contact: BradforJeffcoKids.com; facebook Brad Rupert
for Jeffco Kids; cbrupert@aol.com; Friends of Brad Rupert,
303-456-1100

Matt Van Gieson
Who: Matt Van Gieson; Jeffco
School Board; Systems Engineer. Born
in Jeffco and went through Jeffco public
schools. I married another A West grad,
we have four children ages 7 yrs old to 12
wks.
Public Office: I have not run for
public office before.
Volunteer: I have volunteered in
our schools providing food and supplies
to at risk students. I coach my children’s sports teams and I
was the President of our PTO, leading fundraising efforts.
Most Important Issues:
• Jeffco spends a billion dollars a year but only 50% of 3rd
graders end the school year reading at grade level. That means
every other 4th grader arrives unprepared for fourth grade
work. We must do better. I will bring balance to the board,
setting achievement goals, and asking tough questions about
which programs are working. I will only support spending
dollars to help more students succeed.
• I volunteered at Pleasant View and experienced the

devastation the school closure caused. We also experienced
the anxiety of closure threats at Fitzmorris, our neighborhood
school, and Swanson which my wife attended. I do not support
closing small schools and splitting communities. We also have
enrollment growth in parts of Jeffco and need cost effective
solutions for those overcrowded schools.
• Many middle schools don’t have room for 6th graders;
adding capacity will cost about $50 million. We may lose
teacher who don’t have the certification to teach in middle
school. Schools like Manning won’t be able to take as many
students per grade. Special needs students will lose a year
of services. More elementary schools become “small” and
subject to closing. I don’t support moving 6th graders.
Contact: Visit my website: Matt4JeffcoSchoolBoard.
com to find links to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter. Email me at Matt4JeffcoSchoolBoard@gmail.com
Candidate committee: Matt4JeffcoSchoolBoard; Chairperson
Brian DeLauro.

Director District 2
Susan Harmon
Who: I am Susan Harmon and I
am running for re-election to the JeffCo
School Board in District 2. I own a family
law practice in Lakewood. I have spent
my career working for families and kids.
Public Office: I am current serving
on the JeffCo School Board for District 2
Volunteer:
Rooney
Ranch
Elementary PTA- two years as President;
3 years as 2nd Vice President. I served
for two years as the PTA Parent Representative for Elected
Officials in my district. More on my website.
Most Important Issues: I decided to run in 2015
to address the loss of teachers in our district, and plan to
continue to work to attract/retain more great teachers for our
classrooms. When we are planning for the success of future
JeffCo students, we must continue to work on creating greater
equity in our programs and facilities for all students, while
addressing the diverse needs of our student populations.
This will continue to be imperative as we look to support
facilities in high-growth areas. We need to ensure that all
students have opportunities and access to multiple pathways
for success, while they are in school, and after graduation. We
have increased the supports for mental health in our schools,
and need to continue to work on this, as well as focusing
on the achievement gaps that continue for our student
populations. The board must work to strike the right balance
with testing in our schools by making sure we have wellrounded accountability systems, without excessive emphasis
on standardized testing. The board must continue, despite
differences in opinion, to maintain the civility that has been
restored within the board room. I look forward to working on
these solutions with the community.
Contact: Friends of Susan Harmon; Campaign
Contact Number/Campaign Staff 303 667-9289; www.
keepjeffcomovingforward.com;
www.susanforjeffcokids.
com; susan@susanforjeffcokids.com; www.facebook.com/
susanforjeffcokids/.

Erica Shields
Who: My name is Erica Shields, and I’m running for
Jefferson County School in District I have lived in Littleton a
little over 10 years. I am a married mom of four children who
have all gone through Jefferson County public schools.
Public Office: I have never been in or run for public
office before.

Volunteer: I have volunteered in
my children’s schools over the years as
a parent mom as well as PTA mom. I
have worked with several organizations
to help provide everything from food,
school supplies, socks, and other items
to those in need.
Most Important Issues:
• The most important issues I
am hearing from my community are
student achievement, the threat of closing schools, and
moving 6th graders to middle schools.
• Providing the opportunity for EVERY student in
EVERY Jeffco school to succeed is one of the major issues
facing Jeffco. Although recent test scores show that Jeffco
is doing better than Colorado on the whole, only 50% of
Jeffco students are meeting or exceeding state standards.
Many students are so far behind academically it is nearly
impossible for them to graduate with the skills they will
need for college or career. Although test scores don’t paint
the picture of a student’s learning or capabilities we need to
do a better job investing the billion dollars we spend each
year to ensure our students are achieving at a higher level.
• The threats of closing schools is another big issue facing
Jeffco families. Far too many communities are concerned
and stressed because the board has threatened to close
dozens of schools. Placing a school on the potential closure
list makes families nervous and often leads to declining
enrollment making the school even more vulnerable
to closure. Closing a neighborhood school breaks up a
community and has devastating effects especially when the
school primarily serves low income families.
Contact:
Email:Erica@ericaforschoolboard.com;
Website: www.ericaforschoolboard.com; Twitter: @EricaFor
Kids; FB: @EricaForKids; No committee chairperson.

Director District 5
Ron Mitchell (uncontested)
Who: Ron Mitchell. I am running
for District 5 Jeffco School Board. I am
a former Jeffco High School Principal,
lifelong Jeffco resident, and graduate
of Arvada High School.
Public Office: Yes I am currently
a Jeffco School Board member.
Volunteer: I have spent my life
giving back to the community through
educating our children.
Most Important Issues:
• Expanding career pathways for students. Not all
students are college bound. By providing vocational,
technical, and apprenticeship opportunities to our students,
we better prepare our students to thrive in life after school.
• Attracting and retaining quality teachers for every
classroom. Quality teachers are simply the key to our success
in providing education to our children. There is no single
tactic that will achieve this goal, but elevating teachers and
the teaching profession to ensure they receive the respect
and support of the community is an important step.
• Focusing resources on updating and remodeling
our older school buildings to ensure a first-class learning
environment for students. Many of our schools were built
30-50 years ago. It is important to protect the investment
previous generations made in these facilities.
Contact:
Website:
http://ronforjeffcokids.com/
&
http://keepjeffcomovingforward.com/;
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ronforjeffcokids; Email: ron@
ronforjeffcokids.com; Phone: 720.588.2174.

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9

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 16, 2017 – ngazette.com

SCHOOL CROSSING

Services
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scheduled to close down at the end of the year
had been given an indefinite opportunity
s I sat and ate my delicious meal at a
to stay open and work on increasing
local restaurant here in Wheat Ridge, I
enrollment. Pennington in particular
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!
overheard a great conversation happening
was championed by PTA Vice President
7110 West 44th Avenue
at the table next to me., a young boy out to
Leah Dozeman, who called neighbors and
dinner with his grandparents. They asked
knocked on doors to rally the community
720-593-1994
him, “What was one thing they should know
to keep this last-standing school in District
walnutridgefamilymedicine.com
about him?” Clearly he was excited about
4 open. With more active parents around
our neighborhood schools,
the topic and started chatting
students will grow academically
and laughing, he wanted to
ABC LAUNDRY
and emotionally inside our
cover all grounds.
ABC LAUNDRY
Always Bright & Clean
classrooms and in their homes.
They then asked him to
Cautiously excited is the
describe
himself
in
three
Always Bright & Clean
Manning School community.
words. Well, that pushed him
The cleanest and friendliest laundry in town
With a new principal at the
over the edge and he protested
helm, families have been asked
about
being
restricted
to
only
Drop your laundry from 7-11 am
for what they would like to see
three
words.
It
was
refreshing
Weekdays & we’ll do it for you!
in the future. This a school that
The
cleanest and friendliest laundry intotown
hear so much energy from
$1.50/lb.
traditionally has not been open
just
a
conversation.
How
many
Ready in 2 business days!
to suggestions. While academic
parents out there are pushing
Guy Nahmiach
Drop your laundry from 7‐11 am Weekdays &
standards and results have been
their kids with conversations
9990 44th Avenue • Wheat Ridge
sky high, the concern was always the “boot
on 44th east
of Kipling
south $1.50/lb.
sidewe’ll
do it on
fortheyou!
that don’t revolve around the Broncos or
camp” environment that surrounded the
ATM
on insite
Pokemon or ridiculous TV shows. How
Ready
2 business days!
staff and students. How do you maintain
many parents are spending a meal’s time
the excellent results without squashing your
to listen and really understand what their
child’s thirst for knowledge and hunger for
children are about? The answer is simple …
On 44th East of Kipling on the Southnotside.
a challenge? Read Jeena Williams’ (new
enough.
9990 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge CO 80033 Parent involvement is the biggest principal at Manning) article in this issue of
the Neighborhood Gazette. I am so excited
Come in for “Free Soap Tuesday”* factor in how successful a school is and the about the future of Manning. In fact, find
outcome of a student’s experience in the
out for yourself at Manning’s Open House
world of education. I am not suggesting
�While supplies last Tuesdays star�ng at 8 a�
on Oct. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
that every parent out there join the PTA and
With the Wheat Ridge area middle
be in charge of some event at their school.
schools taking on the sixth grade next year
But if you look at the successful schools in
– instead of the short two years in which
our city, it’s easy to point out why they are
Christina Pulciani
students and parents kept their heads down
successful and what they are doing well to
Agency Owner
and hoped for the best – it becomes a threecontinue to attract families from all districts
6701 W. 44th Avenue
303-463-1750
including those outside our city borders.
Continued on page 11
We were all excited to hear that schools
CPulciani@allstate.com
n By

Answers to Questions Posed to
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass
Jeffco failed a mill levy override and bond election in November of 2016. Some say it
was a matter of lack of trust with the district. How will you go about rebuilding that
trust?
In my professional experience, the main reason school districts fail when they
go to the voters for facilities improvements (through bonds) or added operational
dollars (through mill levy overrides) is because of low organizational trust and a lack of
credibility with the community.
Looking back at Jeffco Public School’s recent political history, it isn’t hard
to understand why many voters felt uncomfortable sending more money to an
organization which had been at the center of what may have been the nation’s worst
example of hyper-partisan politics in a local school district.
If you are going to ask people to separate themselves from their own money, you
have to have built a high level of trust that good things are going to happen with those
dollars. An atmosphere of political acrimony does not beget a positive outcome when
it comes to asking voters for more dollars.
If Jeffco Public Schools decides to go before the voters again in the future (and we
have no current plans to do that), I think we’ll need to do three key things.
First and foremost, we need to rebuild trust with the community. This happens
through an intentional effort to show the community the good things happening in our
schools and for our kids. Jeffco Public Schools works miracles on behalf of students
every day and we need to do a better job telling those stories, celebrating our successes,
and sharing the good work. To rebuild trust, we also have to keep our noses clean
and steer the organization away from any major negative issues. We’ll be working
on sharing those stories through a focused and intentional communications effort
and we’ll be working on keeping the district on a positive path through engaged and
competent management.
The second thing I think is necessary is a positive and forward-focused vision that
the community can get excited about. I don’t think it’s possible to run a successful
election effort through whining about what we don’t have – instead, we need to excite
and ignite our community about where we are going and what we could do with
additional dollars. We can’t just ask for more money to do what we’ve always done. If
we want our community to support us, we’re going to need to put forth something that
gets them fired up about the future.
Finally, I think we’ve got to show our community that we are responsible and
efficient with the dollars we already get, and that they are getting a lot of positive
productivity out of us. On top of that, I also think that we have to create additional
transparency and accountability for any new dollars we get. We need to be able to
clearly explain where any new dollars are going, what they would be used for, and
provide the voters ways to hold us accountable for doing what we said we would do.
Again, we don’t have any immediate plans to go back to the polls. And, frankly, I
think that’s a good thing. We’ve got some real work to do in order to be worthy of the
community’s confidence and respect – and we’re ready and willing to do that work.
Thank you,
Dr. Jason Glass
If you have a question for our new Superintendent please submit it to guy@
NostalgicHomes.com or call it in to 303-999-5789.

ngazette.com – SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 16, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

SCHOOL VISITOR PASS

AT

WHE

RID

GE

All Means All: The Manning
School Looks to the Future
n By

Jeena Williams

H

ello, my name is Jeena Williams and
I am a recovering classroom teacher.
Piles of ungraded essays still haunt my
nightmares – as do answering pointed emails
from parents, supervising homecoming, and
navigating hallways during passing periods.
That said, a part of me wishes I still led
freshmen and juniors in discussions about
Robert Frost and William Shakespeare
and “The Declaration of Independence,”
and I carry with me these lessons from my
students’ insightfulness: that all kids can
learn and that public education has the
urgent responsibility to build communities
worthy of our kids’ collective potential.
I am now lucky enough to lead Manning,
a school that’s proud to provide a safe
space for amazing kids to think critically,
be creative, work hard, learn rich content,
grow as people and as learners, and achieve
great things. This year we are tasked with
welcoming fresh perspectives into the
building while navigating a looming second
order change: We will, with other Wheat
Ridge area middle schools, welcome sixth
graders to our unique culture in the 20182019 school year. This calls us to have robust
dialogue with our stakeholders about who
we are, what traditions we must keep and
how we might need to shift to accommodate
a new group of students.
Recently, I asked our families: Why
did you choose Manning for your kids? If
you could, what might you change about
Manning? What kinds of things do you
want your kids to do and learn while they’re
in middle school? And what should we
consider as we welcome sixth graders into
our community? From their 100-plus survey
responses, four themes rose to the surface:
1) Families want their kids to be great
students who know how to manage time,
complete work meticulously, be organized,
take copious notes, learn key skills in core
content area, and be prepared for the
rigors of high school, college, and the world
beyond.
2) Families want students to be critical
thinkers who are challenged to persist

School Crossing
Continued from page 10

year commitment where the middle schools
will have to up their game and really prepare
students for high school. A long-term vision
will be important. Which program and what
high school will your student set their sights
on, and which middle school do you feel will
best prepare them for that journey?
In the same breath, I bring up my
concern that while we are so focused on
getting our students college and career
ready, what standards do we hold our
elementary and middle schools to in truly
preparing grade after grade full of aspiring
students for high school? We don’t hold kids

through productive struggle, express
complicated ideas, evaluate the thinking of
others, support sophisticated arguments
with meaningful evidence, develop and test
hypotheses, and solve complex, relevant,
real-world problems.
3) Families want kids to love learning,
to experience joy and wonder in and out
of a typical classroom, and to be inspired
by staff members who care about them
and individualize instruction to meet their
needs.
4) Finally, and for many most
importantly, families want their kids
to be good people who build healthy
relationships; advocate for themselves; have
integrity; serve their community; develop
as leaders; and be confident, self aware,
courageous, disciplined, kind individuals.
Parents understand that adolescence is a
critical and difficult time, and they believe
our school ought to serve them as whole
children with a wide range of needs beyond
just academics.
And just about all of them asked me fix
the parking lot. I’m working on it.
The Manning staff is working
persistently and thoughtfully to craft
experiences that ask kids to grow as great
students, critical thinkers, lifelong learners
and principled people while honoring our
traditions of academic excellence and high
expectations. In this endeavor, we aim to
have courage – to be authentically who we
are, to stand up to forces who would ask
us to change too abruptly, to question the
next big thing and to challenge conventional
wisdom. We need all stakeholders to help us
make critical decisions and to tell us when
we misstep. It is our privilege to serve this
community and its extraordinary kids;
we will do our best to meet the challenge
inherent in John O’Donohue’s observation:
“The duty of privilege is absolute integrity.”
Sincerely,
Jeena Williams
Jeena Williams is the Principal of The
Manning School.
Questions for this guest writer or suggestions for future guest writers should be
sent in to Guy@NostalgicHomes.com.

back anymore. We hope that they will “catch
up” at some point. So when Johnny becomes
a freshmen reading only at fifth grade level,
who do we point to? More importantly, how
do avoid this situation in the first place?
Finally on a more personal note, this is
my first week after dropping off my oldest at
the University of Toronto. While my heart
feels like it’s been ripped apart, I take great
comfort for the amazing work each school
has done in getting this student ready for
the next four years. Make sure you spend
the time with yours. Get to know who they
are and what makes them tick. What do they
want you to know about them?
As always, thanks for reading.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS
Ribbon Cutting at
Ackerman Engineering,
Sept. 28
Wheat Ridge Business Association and
the City of Wheat Ridge invite members to
a Ribbon Cutting at Ackerman Engineering,
Thursday, Sept. 28, 5 p.m., 3000 Youngﬁeld
St., Suite 264. Ackerman Engineering, Inc.
was established in 2000 as a full-service
electrical engineering and lighting design
ﬁrm. They oﬀer decades of experience
and a commitment to customer service
unparalleled in the industry.
For more information, call 303-2787297.

Infinitus Pie Celebrates
Patio Grand Opening
Sept. 29-Oct. 1
The Wheat Ridge location of Inﬁnitus
Pie (IPIE) will celebrate a grand opening
for its new patio the weekend of Sept. 29.
“After a full summer of working with
the city, contractors and manufacturers,
it is ﬁnally here! And we are throwing a
big pizza party to celebrate,” said iPie’s
Nicholas Roemer. “We now have a great
capacity, and the patio is equipped with a
bicycle parking rack capable of holding over
25 bicycles.”
Cyclists receive free sodas, water,
lemonade or tea. Entertainment for the
weekend will be live music on Friday, and
Saturday, karaoke on Sunday from 5 to 9
p.m., as well as patio games and a raﬄe.
Promotional oﬀers include $5 craft draft
beers (16 oz.), and $6 for unlimited topping
8-inch pizza pies.
Infinitus Pie is located at 5807 W. 38th
Ave., Wheat Ridge; call 720-287-5915 for
more information.

Sit Means Sit Dog Training
Open House Oct. 7 & 8
Wheat Ridge Business Association and
the City of Wheat Ridge invite members
to a Ribbon Cutting at Sit Means Sit Dog
Training-Wheat Ridge, on Friday, Oct., 6, 3
p.m., 4949 Marshall St. They will also have
an open house on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 4
to 7 p.m. Programs at Sit Means Sit include:
Puppy Management, Basic and Advanced
Obedience,
Behavior
Modiﬁcation,
Aggression, Private, Group and Boarding
Training. Faster, Smarter, Better!
For more info, call 303-422-3647.

WRBA Serves Up LinkedIn
Tips at Breakfast Meeting
At Wheat Ridge Business Association’s
next monthly breakfast meeting, Oct. 10,
social-media trainer and tutor Joyce Feustel
presents “Using LinkedIn to Enhance Face
to Face Networking,” where attendees will
learn to personalize and customize the app
to increase connections. It takes place 7 to 9
a.m. at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center,
4005 Kipling St. $15 for members, $18
nonmembers.
Visit www.wheatridgebiz.com or call
720-588-2317.

Denny’s in Wheat Ridge
Unveils New, Locally
Inspired Design
Denny’s in Wheat Ridge recently
unveiled its all-new, locally inspired design.
The remodeled restaurant is part of Denny’s
new Heritage brand re-imaging campaign,
which has been rolled out to more than half
of all Denny’s nationwide. Check it out at
9930 W. 49th Ave.

s a hazy sun rose over the Red Rocks
Amphitheatre, a small crowd of people,
dressed in blue t-shirts, grew to more than
2,100. All were there to take part in the
ninth annual Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb,
to remember the ﬁrst responders who lost
their lives in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,
2001. And, as the sun battled with clouds
overhead, each pair of feet would take
nearly 2,000 steps – the equivalent of the
110 stories of the World Trade Center, a total
of nine laps around the amphitheater. The
climbers came from 16 states, representing
60 ﬁre agencies from Colorado and across
the country.
“It’s amazing to see the support we
have each year for this event,” said Shawn
Duncan, a lieutenant with West Metro Fire
Rescue and co-coordinator of the climb.
“We had people here just after 6 am, waiting
in line to register.”
Duncan and Cody McGinnis, an Aurora
ﬁreﬁghter, are the co-coordinators of the event
and rely on an army of volunteers and sponsors
to turn their idea into a reality each year.
“We wanted to do something to both
remember the 343 ﬁreﬁghters who died
trying to save lives that day, and to help the
families they left behind,” said McGinnis.
The climb beneﬁts the FDNY Counseling

Services Unit and the programs provided by
the National Fallen Fireﬁghters Foundation
to support their families. So far, more than
$2 million has been raised through stair
climb events around the country. The Red
Rocks event is the largest of its kind – this
year participants raised nearly $70,000.
And while most climbers wear t-shirts
and shorts during the moderately strenuous
event, in the crowd, you can see ﬁreﬁghters,
dressed completely in “bunker” gear – heavy
coats and pants – with helmets on their
heads. Some even are “on air” – with face
masks, connected to air tanks, breathing
compressed air as they climb. And, as the
tanks begin to run dry, you can hear the
alarms sound – warning the wearer that air
and time are running out.
“As a ﬁreﬁghter, we’re trained for the
worst scenarios,” said Duncan. “Even so, it’s
hard to imagine what they saw that day as
they climbed the stairs of the World Trade
Center. They had to know it was likely they
were not going to make it out. That’s why we
do this – to remember their sacriﬁce.”
Registration for next year’s Colorado
9/11 Stair Climb opens early next summer.
Watch www.911stairclimb.com for details.
Ronda Scholting is the Communications/Media Relations Specialist for West
Metro Fire Rescue; contact her at rscholting@westmetrofire.org or 303-941-8317.

• A portion of each ticket purchased will go back to support Jeffco schools
Please contact Travis Putnam with the Colorado Rapids at
Travis.Putnam@TeamKSE.com or 303.727.3590 with questions and orders of 20 or more.

COLORADORAPIDS.COM

ngazette.com – SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 16, 2017 – NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE

WHAT’S HAPPENING
Carnation Festival Student
Bench Auction Raises
More than $1,000
The Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival
Student Garden Bench Auction raised more
than $1,000 for local schools. Eleven schools
in Wheat Ridge submitted benches to the
auction that were painted by their students.
The highest bid of $400 went to Everitt
Middle School for its bench that featured
Denver’s skyline against a mountain
backdrop.
The benches were built by Wheat Ridge
High School students using donated lumber.
The Colorado Construction Institute
provided instruction and support to the
students as part of a larger effort to equip
Jefferson County students with real-world
skills. Money raised through the auction
will benefit each participating school's art
department.
This is the second year that the Wheat
Ridge Education Alliance (WREA) has
joined forces with local schools, the
Colorado Construction Institute, and the
Carnation Festival to highlight studentconstructed projects. Last year, students
built and decorated picnic tables to raise
funds at the festival auction. Established in
April of 2014, the mission of the WREA is
to advance educational excellence in Wheat
Ridge schools by working together with city
officials, community members, business
owners, and educators.

Discuss ‘The Ringer’ With
Wheat Ridge Reads, Sept.
21 & 23
The Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission
has chosen Jenny Shank’s “The Ringer” for
this year’s Wheat Ridge Reads community
reading program.
Set over the course of a baseball season,
“The Ringer” weaves a fictional story of the
aftermath of an inadvertent police shooting.
The sons of the triggerman and the victim
all play youth league baseball, bringing the
families together in a stunning climax that
doesn’t resolve the situation, but releases the
tension of the story.
Shank will discuss her book and share
some writing insights during three free
Wheat Ridge Reads events: Thursday, Sept.
21, 9 a.m. during Wheat Ridge Library’s
Thursday Morning Book Club at Ye Olde
Firehouse, 3232 Depew St.; that afternoon at
Wheat Ridge High School with students and
faculty; and Saturday, Sept. 23, 4 p.m., at El
Aguascalientes, 4105 Wadsworth Boulevard,
for a community discussion.
Now in its sixth year, Wheat Ridge
Reads promotes literacy through a common
reading experience among community
members and culminates with three author
presentations in September. Teenagers and
adults are encouraged to read the book and
join the discussion at one of these events.
Copies of “The Ringer” are available at
Jefferson County Public Libraries, BookBar,
4280 Tennyson St., and electronically.
For more information, contact Wheat
Ridge Cultural Commissioner At Large Gay
Porter DeNileon at gpdenileon@gmail.com.

LWV Jeffco to Host
School Board Info Meeting
Sept. 26
Join your neighbors and the League of
Women Voters Jeffco for a school board
election informational meeting on Sept.
26 from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church, 9200 W. 10th Ave., in Lakewood.
This year, three of the five board seats for
Jefferson County Public Schools will be
open. The League’s Education team will host
a panel of experts to explain and discuss how
a school board sets goals, adopts policies and
keeps students at the foremost of decision
making. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn
about the role of the school board, or to
learn if you would like to explore becoming

a candidate for the school board.
For more information visit www.lwvjeffco.org or call 303-238-0032.

Honey Festival, Japanese
Cooking Class at Four
Seasons Market
Colorado Honey Festival will take place
at Four Seasons Farmers & Artisans Market
on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. until 2
p.m.
Chef Yosuke Suzuki returns for
another session of the popular Slice and
Dice Japanese Cooking Class on Sept. 30.
Register early for your space. These classes
fill up quickly!
Find more information or RSVP at www.
fourseasonsfam.com.

Wellness Fair at Evolition,
Sept. 30
Evolition will host a wellness fair
featuring local providers who offer different
types of bodywork and movement therapies,
individual and group fitness, nutrition and
emotional health counseling, esthetics and
more.
There will be giveaways for various
services and retail items as well as educational
talks and demonstrations throughout. The
event takes place at Elevation Physical
Therapy and Inspiration Fitness, 1901-1921
Youngfield St. from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday,
Sept. 30.
For more information, contact Tiffany
Bucknam of Evolition, 303-906-3696.

Localworks’ ‘Pop-Up’
Safety event Oct. 1-7
AARP has awarded a Community
Challenge grant to Localworks for its Activate
38 program. The grant will help Localworks
increase active transportation, transit use
and accessibility along 38th Avenue between
Kipling and Youngfield streets. Localworks’
winning submittal is a neighborhood “popup” tactical urbanism intervention along the
busy 38th Avenue corridor west of Kipling, to
be conducted Oct. 1 through 7. This corridor
has few facilities for walking, biking and
wheelchair rolling, and the demonstration
will encourage the local community to learn
more about improving these facilities, and
enable conversations for change with the city.
Residents and coalition members are
working with Localworks within this focus
area to examine infrastructure, overall
walk and roll ability, and general safety.
The area has been previously prioritized
for infrastructure, a fatality has occurred
on the corridor, and there are numerous
safety concerns from residents. There were
22 grant applicants in the state of Colorado,
and Localworks is one of two selected in the
state.
Learn more about Activate 38 and the
upcoming “pop-up” event at WeAreLocalworks.org/Activate-38.

2017 Election and Ballot
Issues Forum Oct. 3
The Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce
will host a forum to discuss upcoming
election and ballot issues. It will take place
on Oct. 3 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Wheat Ridge
City Hall in Council Chambers, 7500 W
29th Ave. All Wheat Ridge residents and
businesses are encouraged to attend.
For details, visit www.wheatridgechamber.org/events.

St. John’s to Bless Animals
on Oct. 7
On Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. there will be a
Blessing of the Animals at St. John’s
Episcopal Church, 13151 W. 28th Ave. in
Applewood. The short outdoor service will
feature music and prayer, followed by coffee,

juice and treats. For the safety of all present
animals must be leashed or in their carriers/
containers.

13

Focus on
Wheat Ridge
Business

For more information, visit www.stjohngolden.org.

Historical Society’s Apple
Cider Day is Oct. 14
Bring your own apples and containers to
hold the cider pressed on the Wheat Ridge
Historical Society’s presses on Apple Cider
Day, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the
Historic Park 4610 Robb St. There will also
be craft demonstrations. Cost is $5, and
lunch is served for a nominal fee. Listen to or
join in on the live music.
For more information, visit www.wheatridgehistoricalsociety.org.

Explore Wheat Ridge Bus
Tour, Oct. 21
On Saturday, Oct. 21, the public is
invited to take a bus tour of the City of
Wheat Ridge. This outing delves into new
developments and projects around town,
while allowing attendees the opportunity to
learn more about the city and how to become
more involved with Localworks. The $10
cost includes a beverage ticket for Rickoli’s
(beer or in-house brewed cherry soda or root
beer), as well as samples of delicious pizza
from Infinitus Pie following the tour. The
tour runs from 2 to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit www.wearelocalworks.org.

Mental Health First Aid
Colorado – CPR for the
Brain
A number of organizations in Jefferson
County are joining forces to promote and
coordinate a countywide expansion of the
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Colorado
initiative. MHFA has become a full-blown
movement in the United States; adopted
by law enforcement, human services
organizations, schools, colleges and many
others as a critical skill in supporting the
mental health needs of communities.
In Jefferson County, 13 organizations
deliver MHFA every week, having trained
more than 3,500 individuals and counting.
Community First Foundation, through its
Lutheran Legacy Fund, continues this shared
vision and commitment to training several
more thousand people in MHFA. They have
awarded funding to Jefferson Center to
facilitate Jefferson County’s development
of a new and sustainable model of MHFA
in our communities called the MHFA Jeffco
Collaborative, and will build upon the
successful growth of MHFA in our area in
recent years.
Mental Health First Aid teaches people
how to: recognize signs of addictions and
mental health problems; respond to a
developing mental health issue or a crisis;
use a proven 5-step action plan to help and
connect those in need with local resources to
help.
To learn more, schedule a training or
help the initiative, please go to www.mjfajeffco.org or call 303-432-5155.

Trunk or Treat Returns
Oct. 28
One of the area’s favorite fall activities,
Trunk or Treat, will take place on Oct. 28
from 4 to 6 p.m. A fun, safe trick or treat for
kids and their families with participation
from firefighters, the police, businesses and
community members. Participants decorate
their cars and trucks with creative disguises
and hand out candy to kids. The event,
which will take place on the Green, 7101
W. 38th Ave., features a haunted house,
carnival games a Trunk Decorating Contest
and “Thriller” zombie dancers.
For details visit http://wearelocalworks.
org/.

Floral Paradise on
38th Avenue
On the corner of 38th Avenue and
Teller Street sits Posey Girl Floral Boutique. This ﬂoral oasis opened its doors
in April of 2011. Posey Girl’s owner,
Susannah Burley, is a self-described
botanically smitten artist. Passionate
about shape, color, and natural elements, she ardently wanted a shop of
her own where she could practice, experiment and share her whimsical and
unusual ﬂoral perspective.
According to Burley, signing a lease
on 38th Avenue in Wheat Ridge was a
lucky impulse. She credits her neighborhood customers and word-of-mouth
advertising for the shop’s success.
Burley loves supporting Wheat Ridge
and has worked with many community groups. She has provided arrangements for the Mid Century Modern
Home Tour and the Carnation Festival.
She has also donated ﬂowers and gift
certiﬁcates to Treasure Trunk, Family
Tree, local churches, and pre-school
fundraisers. “It is hard to say no to a
donation request that could be an opportunity to learn about our community
organizations and the inspiring people
who run them,” said Burley.
Burley is passionate about designing with an array of unusual seasonal
blooms and elements. “These days, you
can easily pick up a bouquet of ﬂowers
before you check out at the grocery
store,” said Burley, “So, I make an effort
to source ﬂowers, foliage and elements
that you can’t ﬁnd anywhere else.” Her
unique designs don’t end with the ﬂoral
arrangement. Burley also has an eye
for exceptional vases. In addition to
clear glass, ceramic, and wood, Posey
Girl has a groovy collection of vintage
and handmade vases. Burley also encourages her clients to bring vases from
home to allow her arrangements to
seamlessly ﬁt into their home’s décor.
For the last several years, Posey Girl
has been delighted to offer ﬂowers,
herbs and foliage from Wheat Ridge
and Lakewood. Mid-summer through
fall is the best time for locally grown
ﬂowers, and Burley treasures her visits to
the local farms. She is adamant about
doing all of her own purchasing so she
can choose the most inspiring, fragrant
and vibrant blooms for the cooler.
In addition to cut ﬂowers and ﬂoral
design, the shop offers locally made
soaps handmade cards and jewelry by
local artists. They also offer several private design classes.
The shop displays an unconventional
selection of houseplants and succulents. These days you will ﬁnd various
philodendron, ornamental peppers,
pencil cactus, ivies, and more. Distinctive pots and containers that can be
found in all corners of the shop transform a plant into a gift.
Explore Posey Girl’s unique designs
Tuesday through Saturday from 10am
to 6pm and on Sundays from 10am
until 3pm and on their Facebook and
Instagram. Posey Girl Flowers can be
found online at poseygirlﬂowers.com or
by phone at (303)847-0124.
COURTESY OF

may experience throughout their lives.
• These symptoms should not persist in
menopause. If they do, seek the care of your
doctor ASAP.

Dr. Bigsby is an OB/Gyn physician,
board-certiﬁed in Gynecologic Oncology
at Lutheran Medical Center and the Colorado Center for Gynecologic Oncology.

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
Guy Nahmiach

W

Former Bronco Karl Mecklenburg agrees...
“I have had many injuries related to my football career. As the years
go by, the pain and stiffness caused by those years has built up.
AIM Chiropractic helped me feel much better. Instead of struggling with old injuries, I wake up in the morning ready to go.”

• Genetically, ovarian cancers are linked
to breast cancers. Again, if you have a
family history, talk to your doctor as these
mong the health observances that
genetically inherited cancers can often be
occur in September, gynecologic
prevented.
cancer awareness is a good reminder to stay
Cervical
cancer
has
decreased
current with screenings. There are more
significantly in the United States with the
than 100,000 gynecologic malignancies
advent of Pap Smears.
diagnosed every year, encompassing five
• Pap smears are not always needed
different cancers. Uterine, also known as
annually with the added HPV testing done
endometrial cancer is the most common.
today. If you have had positive
Ovarian cancer is the second
high-risk HPV, you likely need
most common gynecologic
more regular screening.
cancer, followed by cervical,
• Pap smears should
vulvar and vaginal cancer.
not automatically stop at 65Women should be aware
70 years of age. If you have
of risk factors and symptoms
had abnormal screens, cervical
as they relate to each of these
carcinoma, or high-risk HPV
cancers as they can be either
in the past you likely need Pap
prevented or detected early in
screening for life, including after
many instances.
a hysterectomy.
In the case of uterine cancer:
• Cervical cancer also can
• Postmenopausal bleeding
Glenn Bigsby
be prevented with the advent
is cancer until proven otherwise.
of the HPV vaccination. This can
Seek medical attention ASAP if this occurs.
be
given
to both boys and girls between
• Obesity is one of the biggest risk
the
ages
of
9 and 26. The recommended
factors for uterine cancer, especially
age is 10-11 years old for the most effective
during premenopause. Menstrual cycle
immune response.
irregularities should be followed closely.
Vaginal cancer is similar to cervical
• Genetically, uterine cancers are
cancer
and is related to the HPV virus. If
sometimes linked to colon cancers. If you
you
have
had HPV, Pap smears should be
have a strong family history of either cancer,
continued at regular intervals.
talk to your physician.
Vulvar cancer can be detected early. See
Ovarian cancer, which is commonly
your
doctor ASAP if you experience vulvar
diagnosed in later stages, is often known as
skin
lesions, persistent itching, pain or
the silent cancer.
bleeding in the vulvar area.
• Symptoms include bloating, changes in
Routine exams are recommended for
bowel or bladder habits, decreased appetite,
early
diagnosis of gynecologic cancers.
pelvic pain and discomfort - things women
n By

My Land Is Your Land

Call Us NOW and We Will See You TODAY!

WHEAT RIDGE
7200 W. 44th Ave.
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Be Aware of Risks for
Gynecologic Cancers

SLOAN’S LAKE/LAKEWOOD
2532 Sheridan Blvd.
Denver, CO 80214

303-423-1925 303-577-2040 303-922-2977 303-458-0294

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hat if I told you that one out of
every three bites of food Americans
consume comes from a plant visited by bees
or other pollinators? More than $15 billion
worth of crops are pollinated by bees each
year just in the United States alone.
Before you start thinking this is another
political piece about Trump, Hillary, Bernie
or Daryl & his other brother Daryl, let me
assure you that it’s simply an awareness
piece about our very own neighborhoods
right here in Wheat Ridge.
The way yards are connected right
across this little town. Fences keep dogs in
and neighbors out, but both pesticides and
our pollinating friends are not restricted by
any kind of fencing. The chemicals you are
using on weeds are not only harming the
bees coming over to my apple tree, they are
also seeping into the ground and down into
the water table.
One of every three bites can include
carrots, zucchini, blueberries, apples … the
list is endless, but so are the consequences.
Imagine a third of our food supply being
replaced by artificial ingredients. Think
of the jobs and livelihoods affected by the
harm done on agriculture, gardening stores,
grocery chains, farms, tractor factories
and the list goes on. We share the air and
we share the water. Remember the days of
smoking sections on airplanes? It’s not like

the nonsmoking section was getting a supply
of clean air from a secret compartment.
Speaking of Daryl & Daryl, my awesome
neighbors Janet and Tim brought over some
of the 5 Fridges goats to take care of the
weeds in the back. I did find out that goats
love to climb fences and eat cherry trees as
well. But rest assured that my flowers will
bloom and vegetables will taste great in a
just few weeks.
It doesn't take much to avoid chemicals.
It’s not a political statement. Simply caring
for not only the yard you own, but the same
piece of land that another family will own
50 years from now. It’s the very definition
of sustainability. Keeping a business healthy
or a home in good shape to hand down to
the next generation. We are always curious
as to who lived in our home prior to us … but
what about long after we’re gone?
Weed barriers work great for gardens,
boiling water with salt will work wonders
on the weeds in your driveway and of course
there’s always elbow grease with a glass of
wine.
You can join the Wheat Ridge
Urban Gardeners and the Wheat Ridge
Sustainability pages on FB and find out
what others are doing. Of course you are
always welcome to share with us here at the
Neighborhood Gazette your own recipe for
healthy gardening.
Contact Guy Nahmiach at 303-9995789 or Guy@NostalgicHomes.Com.

y first face-to-face encounter with an
owl occurred when my husband and I
decided at the last minute to head down to
Taos. The only place available at our favorite
bed and breakfast was an old sheepherder’s
homemade camper, parked behind the main
building. It actually was quite cozy.
The bed was a mattress positioned
above the cab of an old World War II troop
carrier. But it had a sunroof right above your
head – and when I say right above, I mean
inches above.
We had settled in for the night and
were talking softly about what we wanted
to do the next day. Suddenly, a ghostly
white face with huge eyes was examining
us from inches away. Before, I could run
away screaming, my husband laughed and
identified the face as belonging to a barn
owl. Then we heard a scribbling noise on the
roof and she disappeared for minute, only to
return almost immediately.
This occurred several times, until we
figured out that she had a caught a mouse
that she was carrying back to her nest.
Evidently, we were so interesting that she
temporarily forgot about the mouse in her
curiosity to see what was going on in the
camper. Eventually, we no longer seemed
exciting and she gathered up her mouse and
flew away into the night.
According to the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology, the odds are that we all
have some owls living nearby. Able to
thrive almost anywhere in the United
States, some of them are equally at home
in the wilderness or suburban settings.
Colorado has 14 different types of owls:
1) Flammulated, the smallest owl at 2.1
ounces; 2) Northern Pygmy, which is not
much bigger and is diurnal, as opposed to
nocturnal; 3) Northern Saw-Whet, whose
name indicates how it sounds; 4) Boreal,

whose diet is primarily the re-backed vole;
5) Burrowing, which is commonly found in
Prairie Dog burrows; 6) Western Screech,
whose name also indicates how it sounds; 7)
Eastern Screech; 8) Long Eared, who makes
its home in the widest range of elevations in
Colorado; 9) Short-Eared, who nests in the
ground; 10) Barn, who is named because
of his fondness for nesting in man-made
structures; 11) Spotted, who likes canyons
and cliffs; 12) Great Horned, who has the
most varied diet of any North American
owl or hawk; 13) Snowy, which comes
south occasionally and is the only other
diurnal owl in Colorado; and 14) Barred,
which is usually just a visitor, but there are
indications it could be the next permanent
Colorado owl specie.
As nocturnal predators, owls are superb.
A barn owl can see prey with night vision
that is 35 times below the lowest level light
that humans can see. Owls’ eyes are fixed
in their sockets, which limits their field of
vision. This is probably why they rotate their
heads up to 270 degrees. Using only their
hearing, barn owls can even hunt in total
darkness. Ornithologists think that, because
one ear is higher than the other, they can
triangulate sounds by tilting their heads up
and down and from side to side. A barn owl’s
ears are huge and located on a face that is
designed to collect sound. They can hear a
mouse from as far away as 400 yards.
Owls don’t want to expend any energy
that they don’t have to. They usually do
their nesting in nests that have been built
by other large birds or in other spaces that
fit their needs. This may be the reason you
may see them being harried by other birds.
This nesting behavior included a nesting
pair of owls at the garden center at Lowe’s
in Colorado Springs. Lowe’s worked with
wildlife officers to make sure the owls had
a safe location in the garden center and
the mating pair produced three owlets.

The owls served, both, as an attraction
and to take care of the destructive rabbit
population that came in to the Center from
the adjoining fields.
Having a loud voice enables owls to
command large territories without having
to expend energy chasing away intruders.
Great Horned owls have territories of over
a square mile. Northern Pygmy Owls have
whistles that can be heard from a half-mile
away. According to Wild Birds Unlimited,
Great Horned Owls make a noise like you
are saying, very slowly, “Who’s awake? Me,
too!” Of course, what I have heard sounds
more like “whooo...whooo…who…who.”
Their near-silent flight enables owls to
ambush even those prey who know they
are near. Their feathers are softened at the
tips, which reduces any wind noise. I have
experienced being strafed by a Great Gray
Owl. It was very early morning when my
husband and I were finding our way down
a long driveway in an oak forest. Suddenly,
there was a displacement of the air and the
sense of something large above our heads
– understandable, since the wingspan of a
Great Gray Owl can be almost six feet.
Sure enough, we used our flashlight

to spot the landing of a large female onto
a branch above and slightly in front of us.
She was clearly concerned about what
we were doing in her territory. But, while
she watched us closely, she allowed us to
proceed without further hindrance.
Many cultures all over the world
have associated owls with death and the
supernatural. This is probably because
owls hunt at night and seem to float silently
through the darkness. They have booming
voices that seem to come from several
directions at once. Their upright posture
and forward-facing eyes give owls the
appearance of ghostly humans. But in fact,
like Lowe’s, we should be glad to have them.
Pretty much all they need are a few trees or
a barn-like structure, some open areas for
hunting and an abundance of prey. Their
first menu choice is rodents, but they will
also dine on rabbits and skunks when these
creatures come out at dusk or dawn.
Tina Mitchell, a CU researcher, says: “In
reality, owls deserve our respect and deep
appreciation. Without the keen skills of
these mighty nocturnal hunters, the rodent
population might now be running the world
while we sleep. Who’s awake, indeed …”

NEIGHBORHOOD GAZETTE – SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 16, 2017 – ngazette.com

ZACHARY URBAN’S
ATTENDANCE AND
VOTING RECORD
IS THE STRONGEST
OF ANY CURRENT
CITY COUNCILMEMBER.